Part One: Guest Interview

Gloria, founder of The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) and author of Parenting Well in a Media Age, talks with PCI Certified Parent Coach® Jane Schmidt. Jane, founder of Parent Coaching Northwest, LLC in Seattle, is the mother of 9-year-old twin daughters. Like all PCI Coaches, she recognizes that the cumulative daily decisions parents make matter immeasurably to children’s optimal development. A principle focus and passion of Jane’s coaching practice is helping parents manage screen technologies. She helps parents balance their children’s undeniable fascination with media and technology with their understandable concerns. As part of her coaching practice, Jane offers workshops (e.g., Kids and Gadgets) specifically designed to help parents navigate technology and help their children live with, not for, technology. Ultimately, Jane’s parent coaching is about helping parents have the relationships they want with their children—that is the heart of Jane’s work.

“My spouse and I need to agree on the amount of screen time our children are allowed, and I’m not sure how to approach the subject or what we should decide.”

Agreeing on screen time and limits can be real challenge for many parents. But it doesn’t have to be. When spouses disagree about screen time and screen use, the kids are caught in the middle with more confusion and less clarity—which usually create an on-going cycle of struggle—between parents and between parent and child. A unified front, on the other hand, grows children as capable and wise users of screen technologies–with less conflict and more ease.

In this podcast, parents find great examples and strategies for how to work together as a unified front. The approaches shared are simple, positive and highly effective.

The goal in this discussion is to help moms and dads realize this important point:

When you change or take even a few steps towards agreeing with your partner on this topic, you’ll see powerful, positive results that benefit the entire family.

Tune in for effective ways to work together as team regarding tech issues in your household!

Part Two: The Parent Coaching Corner™

I am coaching Lindsey, mom of two daughters, Charlie, age 5.5 and Olive, age, 2.5. Lindsey is working to provide a balanced approach to screen technologies for her girls.

Lindsey is in the midst of her Action Plan and she is coming up with excellent activities for helping the girls develop a strong foundation for digital literacy. Today we discuss how her daughters’ unexpected illness caught them all off guard. Lindsey was able to make the days not only restful for them, but productive learning experiences as well. This mom’s creativity is in high gear. Tune in to be inspired!

Listen to the previous six podcasts to catch up with Lindsey!